Method of assembling a fastening device



Aug. 16, 1960 H. FLORA 2,948,95 8

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A FASTENING DEVICE Original Filed May 22, 1957INVENTOR. LAwaaucg H. FLORA METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A FASTENING DEVICELaurence H. Flora, North Olmsted, Ohio, assignor to Tinnerman Products,Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio Original application May22, 1957, Ser. No. 660,846. Di-

vided and this application Mar. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 720,327

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-432) This application relates to a fastening devicefor holding a nut of plastomeric material, and more particularly to amethod for assembling the nut to a metallic fastener for retaining thenut securely in bolt-receiving position.

In many types of fastening applications, fasteners are used which areadapted to retain or receive a nut or the like in bolt-receivingposition therein. The nut is often formed of plastomeric material, whichis particularly advantageous since it is readily molded, has therequired strength and elasticity, and is elastically threadimpressionable. However, plastomeric materials have a disadvantageousaging characteristic, in that the material eventually becomes brittleand cracks to the extent that the fastener is no longer able to retainthe nut in boltreceiving position. A further disadvantage of suchfasteners is the fact that they hold the nut very rigidly in position(before the nut becomes brittle and cracks), with the result that thereis no allowance for misalignment of the units or parts which thefastener is adapted to correct.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of assemblinga plastomeric nut to a metallic fastener, so as to retain the nut eventhough the nut should become brittle and should crack, and which willoperate to connect the assocciated parts even though they be vitallymisaligned with respect to each other.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of anapertured fastener for holding a sleeved plastomeric nut inbolt-receiving position upon a part to be joined. This is accomplishedby providing a separate sleeve member adapted to tightly embrace thatportion of the nut sleeve which extends through the aperture in thefastener. The separate sleeve member may be formed from the aperturedportion of the body of the fastener at the time the nut is assembled inthe body. Additionally, the separate sleeve member has an outsidediameter larger than the diameter of the aperture and operates to engageone side of the body to limit movement of the nut in one direction withrespect to the body. The nut may have a base portion overhanging theaperture and which engages the other side of the body to limit movementof the nut in the opposite direction with respect to the body. Thefastener may be provided with any suitable means for securing the sameto a part to be joined. With the above sleeve-in sleeve construction,the plastomeric nut is securely held in bolt-receiving position even ifthe nut becomes brittle and cracks. Additionally, this constructionallows the nut to float in position, thereby enabling the fastener tojoin misaligned parts.

In the drawings Fig. l is a front elevational view of a partiallyfabricated fastening device showing an initial step in the formation ofthe nut retaining portion thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the upper or nut retaining portionof the fastening device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the fastening device shown in Fig.1 and showing a further step in the formation of the nut retainingportion thereof;

'atent Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the upper or nut retainingportion of the fastening device shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational sectional view taken along thelines 5'5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fastening device shown in Fig. 3 andshowing a plastomeric sleeve nut in position prior to its assembly intothe nut retaining portion of the fastening device;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further step in the formation of thefastening device shown in Figs. 1 through 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the completed fastening deviceshown in Figs. 1 through 7, and showing a bolt threadedly retained inthe plastomeric nut therein. This view also shows in dot-dash linesobjects secured to the bolt shank and the bolt head, and a panel uponwhich the fastening device is secured;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the fastening deviceshown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a mounting assembly using thefastening device shown in Fig. 9. In this view, the panel upon which thefastening device is mounted is shown in section;

Fig. 11 is an end elevational sectional view taken along the line 11-11of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another modification of the fasteningdevice shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of a mounting assembly using thefastening device shown in Fig. 12. In this view, the panel upon whichthe device is fastened is shown in section.

The fastener or clip of the invention is preferably constructed of ametallic material such as a blank of sheet metal strip. Referring toFig. 1, a metal strip 10 may be cut to form a configurationsubstantially as shown, said strip having at one end the arms or legs12a and 12b separated by the slot 13, and having the nut-receivingportion P formed at the other end thereof.

The nut-receiving portion P, in the present instance, includes agenerally rectangular planular surface in the form of a body or baseportion 15, which contains a centrally disposed aperture 14, and theflanges 16a, 16b and 160, extending generally outward in substantiallythe same direction from the respective edges thereof. The flanges act toprevent rotation of a square-headed sleeve nut N, which the portion P isadapted to retain as will be hereinafter described. The aperture 14 maybe formed by a punching and extrusion operation, whereby a tubularportion or sleeve 18 (Fig. 2) is formed circumferentially around theaperture. In the extrusion operation, the sleeve 18 is partially severedfrom. the body 15 as shown in Figs. 5, 4 and 5, to form a weakened lineof severance therebetween. At this point, the sleeve 18 is partiallysevered from the body by an amount which will enable its completeseverage after the plastomeric nut N has been inserted therein, as willbe hereinafter described. The ratio of the severed portion of the sleeveto the unsevered portion thereof is represented by the letters A and Brespectively (Fig. 5). Although any suitable ratio may be used whichwill effect a facile severance of the extruded sleeve from the bodyafter the nut is inserted therein, satisfactory severance has beenachieved when the ratio of A to B is substantially 60%.

After the sleeve 18 has been extruded and partially severed asaforedescribed, the partially fabricated fastening device is ready toreceive the nut N in the nut-re-. ceiving portion P. The nut N, in thepresent instance, is for-med preferably of a plastomeric material andcomprises a rectangular base or head portion 24 having a shank in theform of a tubular member or sleeve portion 26 disposed substantiallycentrally thereon and extending at substantially a right angletherefrom. The tube portion 26 contains an aperture or opening 28 whichextends through the tube and through the base portion 24.

To assemble the nut N in the nut-receiving portion P, the fasteningdevice and the nut are positioned as shown in Fig. 6, after which thetube portion 26 of the nut is' forced through the body aperture 14 andthrough the sleeve 18. in the next successive operation, the sleeve 18may be severed completely from the'body 15, as shown in Fig. 8, therebyplacing the nut in bolt-receiving posi tion in the fastening device.This latter operation may be efiected by the same force with which thetube portion 26 of the nut was forced into the sleeve 18 in onecontinuous operation, or it may be accomplished by a separate blow atthe next station of the die to complete the severance of the extrudedsleeve from the body 15. Disposed at the base end of the nut tubeportion 26 is a circumferential flange 27 (Fig. 6), which is adapted tocoact with the circumferential shoulder 29 (Fig. on the sleeve 18 tofacilitate the severance of the latter from the body of the fastenerwhen pressure is exerted against the nut as aforesaid. Additionally, thetube portion 26 contains a circumferential flange 30 at the outer endthereof having an outside diameter greater than that of the sleeve 18 tolimit movement of the tube portion in one direction within the sleeve.

When the nut N is positioned in the fastener in boltreceiving positionas aforedescribed, the base portion 24 of the nut overhangs the aperture34- and engages the one side of the body to limit movement of the nut inone direction with respect to the body. Additionally, the separablesleeve 18 has a larger outside diameter than the diameter of theaperture 14 and engages the other side of the body 15 to limit movementof the nut in the opposite direction with respect to the body.

Although the sleeve 18 has been described as extruded from the body 15,it may be formed as a separate part and subsequently secured to the nuttube portion 26 as aforesdescribed.

Before or after the nut N has been inserted into the nut-receivingportion P, the fastening device may be fabricated into final form asshown in Fig. 7, wherein the leg portions 12a and 12b have the outerends thereof bent diagonally and at an aprroximate right angle (withrespect to the central portion of the strip lb), to form the aperturedlugs or tabs 36 and 38, with which the fastening device may be mountedon a supporting or connection part R (Fig. 8). Additionally, thenut-receiving portion P may be bent at substantially a right angle inthe same direction which the tabs 36 and 38 extend to complete theconfiguration of the device. The central portion of the strip 10 mayhave a raised or arched portion 40 to strengthen the fastener in thatarea. Thus the fastening device shown in Fig. 7 is a substantially U-shaped clip, wherein one arm of the U is the nut-receiving portion P,and the other arm of the U comprises the mounting lugs as and 38.

Fig. 8 illustrates an application of the fastener wherein a bolt 42 isthreadedly disposed in the nut N. The bolt may have a flange 41 spacedfrom the bolt head 45 to form the circumferential slot or groove 43,which is adapted to retain an object or part 44 therebetween as shown. Amounting panel R may be provided on which the fastening device may besecured by means of the rivets 49 in the mounting lugs 36 and 38.Additionally, the bolt 42 may be adapted to retain an object or panel 46or the like between the flange 41 thereon and the nutretaining portion Pof the fastener.

With the above sleeve-in-sleeve construction, the nut N is securely heldin bolt-receiving position in the fastening device even if the nutbecomes brittle and cracks. The construction also allows the nut, withthe bolt therein, to float in position in the fastening device, therebyatfording substantial allowance for misalignment between the parts anddevice is adapted to connect.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified fastening device or clip J, which containsthe nut-receiving portion P aforedescribed. In this instance, the clipis adapted for insertion onto the edge of an apertured panel or supportR (Fig. 10). More specifically, the resilient fingers St) in theirnormal, unstressed or 'unfastened state are spaced from thenut-receiving portion P of the clip a distance slightly less than thethickness of the panel R, to enable the clip to resiliently embrace orgrip the panel when it is positioned on the edge thereof as shown inFig. 10. Also, the clip I is adapted to receive the bolt 42 in thenut-receiving portion P for connecting parts or objects asaforementioned. In Figs. 10 and 11, the panel R contains an aperture 51,which is in axial alignment with the aperture 28 in the nut, therebyallowing the bolt 42 to pass through the apertures for mountingpurposes.

Fig. 12 illustrates another modification of a fastening devicecontaining the nut-receiving portion P and, in this instance, takes theform of a ciip U, which is adapted also for attachment over the edge ofa panel or supporting part R (Fig. 13). The panel R, and the resilientfinger 54 contain apertures therein respectively, which are in axialalignment with the aperture in the nut N, thereby enabling the bolt 42to pass therethrough for mounting purposes as aforedescribed.

Although the invention has been described in connection with U-shapedand J-shaped fastening devices and the like, it will be understood thatthe invention may be applied to any type of fastening device adapted forreceiv ing or retaining a nut therein.

The nut N may be formed of any suitable metallic or non-metallicmaterial; however, a plastomeric material is preferred since suchmaterial is readily molded, has the required strength and elasticity andis elastically thread impressionable.

The supporting part or panel R may be of any suitable material such assheet rnetal, wood, fiberboard, or the like; however, inasmuch as theinvention is employed mainly in metallic structures, the part R isusually in the form of a metallic panel or plate-like member.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription, and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in theuse of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown or described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

I claim:

1. A method of assembling a plastomeric nut and a metallic fastenercomprising extruding a tubular portion from the body of the fasteneruntil it is connected thereto on a weakened line; providing aplastomeric nut having a base, a shank, a shouldered portion on the endof the shank and a shouldered portion adjacent the connection betweenthe base and shank, forcing the shank and the shouldered portion on theend of the shank into the tubular portion of the body by forward motionthereof relative to the body of the fastener until the shoulderedportion on the end of the shank projects through said tubular portion ofthe body, utilizing the shouldered portion adjacent the base on the nutto sever the tubular portion from the body at the weakened line bycontinued motion of the nut, the shank of the nut having a tight fittingengagement with the tubular portion severed from the body, whereby thesevered portion operates to reinforce the shank of the nut.

2. A method of assembling a plastomeric nut and a metallic fastenercomprising extruding a tubular portion from the body of the fastener,forming a weakened line between the tubular portion and the fastenerbody during the extruding of said tubular portion and forcing aplastomeric nut having a base, a shank, a shouldered portion on the endof the shank and a shouldered portion adjacent the connection betweenthe base and shank into the tubular portion until .the shoulderedportion on the end of the q to? 5 shank projects through the tubularportion of the body in locking relationship therewith, and utilizing theshouldered portion adjacent the base of the plastomeric nut to sever thetubular portion from the body so as to permit limited movement of thenut with respect to the body of the fastener.

3. A method of assembling a plastomeric nut and a metallic fastenercomprising extruding a tubular portion from the body of the fasteneruntil it is connected thereto on a weakened line, providing aplastomeric nut having a base, a shank, a shouldered portion on the endof the shank and a shouldered portion adjacent the connection betweenthe base and shank, forcing the shank and the shouldered portion on theend of the shank into the tubular portion of the body by telescopingaction until the 15 2,822,608

6 shouldered portion on the end of the shank projects through saidtubular portion of the body, and utilizing the shouldered portionadjacent the base on the nut to sever the tubular portion from the bodyat the weakened line by continued motion of the nut, whereby the tubularportion surrounds and reinforces the shank of the nut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,226,689 Nedoma May 22, 1917 1,889,778 Dobrick Dec. 6, 1932 2,724,867Smith Nov. 29, 1955 2,725,621 Gates Dec. 6, 1955 Watson Feb. 11, 1958'

